Golf-stroke-registering device



Aug, 23, 1927., 1,639,714

G. I. THOMSON GOLF STROKE REGISTERING DEVICE Fil d May 15 1925 2Sheets-Sheet l 36 INVENTOR 5.1. THamso ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1927.

G. H. THOMSON GOLF STROKE REGISTERING DEVICE Filed May 15, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 13L Emma BY mu/M 1 ATTORNEYS Aug in on yrs n Si.

GEORGE 13"] ENG THDMSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLIIQ'UIS.

G OLZESTBOKE-BEGISTERENG DEVIQE.

application filed May 315, 1925.

lily invention relates to improvements in golt stroke registeringdevices, and it con sists in the con'ibinations, constructions, andarrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention to provide an improvement over that form ofthe device shown in my copending application, Serial No. 705,291, filedApril 9, 1824-. In my copending application I show a device that isadapted to register the force at which the golf ball strikes the strikerplate, this registering means consisting of a series of lights, eachlight indicating the number of yards the ball would travel it struck outon the open fairway. For example, if the player struck the ball hardenough to normally send the ball 125 yards, the light indicating 125yards would be energized. If the drive was for 150 yards, etc, the lightcorresponding to this yardage would be illuminated.

in the present form of the device I provide a device in which the lightsshowing the greatest number of yardage are energized only when anexceptionally strong drive is made.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the lights may be disposed upon a green backgroundthat resembles the golf course, the background being provided with apicture of a clubhouse thereon, bunkers, sand traps, etc, thusresembling the golf course.

i further object of my invention is to provide a deadening device forstopping the rebound of the golf ball when it hits the striker plate.

A further object of my invention is'to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the golf ball is kept away from striking hardsurfaces, such as metal or wooden parts of the, machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which has a novel return mechanism for conveying the goltballs back to the driver.

Otherobjects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Serial No. 30,593.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailview of a portion of the device,

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4; is a section along the line H of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of Figure 2,

Figure. and

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention I provide a funnel-shaped canvas guide 1,substantially quadrangular in cross section, the larger end 2 of thiscanvas guide being provided with a pair of flaps 3 that are secured to apair of columns 4. In the present form of the device I show thesecolumns as extending from the floor to the ceiling of the room, but itis obvious that the columns may be carried by a selfisupporting frame ifdesired.

The object of the game is to permit the player to practice (hiring thewinter season, or to use the device any time that he does not care to goout upon the fairway or cannot go out upon the fairway. The playerstands approximately 30 or more yards away from the post i and drivesthe golf ball toward the tunnel-shaped member 1. If the golf ball entersthe member 1 it is directed toward a back stop 5 that is preferably madeout of heavy canvas.

I have found that when a plate made of metal or wood is used as a backstop. the ball will careen off from this back stop and will endanger thedriver. A canvas hack stop will operate just as efficiently as back stopmade of wood or metal and will at the same time stop the rebound of theball. As stated heretofore. the canvas is very heavy so as to remainstiff and provide a smooth surface against which the golf ball strikes.This canvas is adapted to move away from a frame 6 that, in the presentform of the device, is made of wood and is supported in an upright 7.The upright extends from is a plan view of the scoreboard,

the floor, and is of suflicient height to posh tion the opening 8 withinthe frame at the desired height above the door. In the present form ofthe device I show the upright *Z' as being constructed of angle irons,two of these angle irons 9 carrying the frame 6. Screws or other likefastening means 10 secure the frame 6 to the upright 7.

The back stop 5 is yieldingly carried by the frame 6 by means of springs11.' These springs are secured to three sides of the back stop, asclearly shown in Figure 4. The springs 11 permit the back stop 5 to moveaway from the frame 6 when the golf ball strikes the back stop. Thesprings are strong enough to cause the back stop to return to normalposition after it has been moved by the impact of the ball, whereby thedevice is ready for the next play. In order to prevent the golf ballsfrom flying in any direction when they strike the back stop I provideextensible sides 12 that are positioned on three sides of the back stop5 and are secured to the frame 6. Figure 5 clearly shows how the sides12 are corrugated so as to permit the back stop to move away from theframe 6. The sides 12- and the back stop 5 form a compartment in whichthe golf ball is temporarily received. This compartment has an openlower end through which the ball falls, whereupon it is conveyed back tothe driver. Means for conveying the ball back to the driver is shown inFigure 1 and consists of a gravity trough 13 and a hopper 14 that ispositioned. directly beneath the back stop 5. The golf ball uponstriking the backstop 5 will be conducted to the hopper 14 and fromthence will roll by gravity along the trough 13 and back to the driver;

At this point it is well to mention the means by which the member 1 isspaced away from the wall of the opening 8. This means is clearly shownin Figure 5. It will he noted that the small opening 15 of thefunnel-shaped member 1 is of less diameter han the diameter of theopening 8. Adjacent to the small opening 15 the sides of the canvas areflared outwardly as at 16, and these flared-out sides are secured to theframe 6 by means of screws 17 or other like fastening means. Thisconstruction spaces the canvas 1 away from the wall of the opening 8,and if, therefore, the golf ball strikes the canvas adjacent to theopening 15, it will he prevented from striking the frame 6. In this waythe rebound of the ball is entirely done, away with, since at no timecan the hall strike a metal or wooden surface.

I also provide means for securing the small end of the funnel-shapedmember 1 to the upright 7, this means relieving the strain upon the neckof the funnel-shaped member 1. To this end Iprovide a canvas collar 18that is sewed or otherwise secured to the funnel-shaped member 1 at 19and has its free end provided with anumber of eyelets 20. Hooks 21 arecarried by the frame 6 and are-received in the eyelets 20 so as tosecure th collar 18 to the frame 6. The

}posts 4.- and the collar 18, together with the ooks 21, support thefunnel-shaped member 1 at both ends thereof, and thus relieve the strainwhich would normally be brought to bear upon the screws 17.

The stroke registering apparatus of the device is suubstantially thesame as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial N 0. 705,291.However, the wheel is supported by the framework 23 of the upright 7,instead of being supported by the bicycle fork as shown in my co-pendingapplication. The wheel carries a disc 24 on its periphery, this. disccarrying two laterally projecting pins 25 and 26. lVhen the disc is inthe full line position shown in Figure 8 the pin 25 is adapted tocontact with the switch members 27. The means for causing the wheel. torotate differs slightly from the means shown in my co-pendingapplication, and in the pres ent form of the device is composed of twosemicircular 'hoopeshaped members 28 that are disposed at right anglesto'each other and have their free ends secured to a third hoop-shapedmember 29. The hoop '29 in turn is secured to the back stop 5 by meansof angle irons 30 and flexible strips, such as canvas 31. l have foundthat the strain upon the hoop 29 is greatly relieved when the hoop issecured to the back stop 5 by the means just described. The hoops maydiffer in size for a purpose hereinafter described. The strips 31 have anumber of openings 32 therein sons to permit the hoopto be readilysecured to the back stop. if the hoop is a little large, the outercircle of openings is used. The strips 31 are secured. to the back stop5 by stitching 38, and have their free ends secured to the angle irons30 by means of rivets 34', bolts, or the like. One of the hoops 28 isadapted to act as a cam member for actuating the striker lever. Thestriker lever is of the same construction as shown in my copendinapplication, except that it is provided wit a roller 36'. In the presentform of the device this roller contacts with the hoop 28 so as toactuate the striker lever when the back stop is moved.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood. Assume that the player hasdriven the golf ball against the back stop 5 hard enough to move theback stop into the full line position shown in Figure 5. It should benoted at this point that the back stop normally is disposed adjacent tothe rear wallof, the frame 6. and is only moved into the full "lineposition shown in Figure 5 when it is struck by a golf ball. Themovement of the back stop 5 swings the lever 35, which in turn impartsmovement to the wheel 22, due to the fact that the swinging of the levermoves the striker member 36. As the striker member 36 is secured to thewheel, the wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown inFigure 2 the pin 25 will contact with the switch members 27 as the pinis carried past the switch members. Of course the momentum of the wheel22 will be in direct ratio to the.force at which the golfclosing thecircuit (not shown) and energizing the light 37 on the score board. 7that corresponds with the number of yards through wvhich the golf ballwould have traveled under normal conditions. This part of the device hasbeen clearly set forth in my co-pending application, and therefore aminute description is not necessary at this time. The wheel 22 carriesweights 38 that are used for returning the wheel back to normal positionafter the wheel has been rotated.

In addition to the weights 38, I provide an auxiliary weight 39 that iscarried by a platform 40. A cord 41 passes from the weight 39 over'apulley 42 and has its free end secured to the rim of the wheel 22 at 43'It will be noted from Figure 2 that this cord.

is slack and therefore the weight 29 will be lifted when the wheel nearsthe end of its movement. I prefer to have this weight applied to thewheel when the pin 25 is pos1-- turn movement will. carry the pin 25into contact with the switch member 27 disposed nearest thereto, andfurther movement of the wheel is prevented until the wheel is releasedby av mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This mechanism is similar tothat shown in my co-pending application, except that in addition a coilspring 44 is used for swinging the bell crank lever 45 back into thefull line position shown in Figure 6. The bell crank lever 45' isconnected to a trigger 46 by means of a link 47, whereupon movement ofthe bell crank lever in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 6will release the trigger 46 from the notch 47' in the disc 24. The disc24 is now free to swing and the weights 38-in returning the wheel backto normal position will cause the disc 24 to swing so as to release thepin 25 from the switch member 27.

In order to restore the wheel 22 to its initial position the cord 48 ispulled by the player so as to release the trigger 46 from the disc 24.The disc 24 will remain in the dotted line position until the pin 26strikes a cam member 49. At the time the pin 26 strikes the cam member49 the disc and the pin 25 will be free'of the last switch member 27.The wheel will continue to rotate until the striker member 36 againcontacts with the striker lever 35. In doing so the pin 26 will be swungby the cam 49 so as to return the disc 24 :to the full line position.The trigger 46 will now reenter the notch 47 and will lock the disc 24against further movement. The disc is now ready for an other play. Thetrigger 46 is preferably made from a leaf spring, and in order torelease the leaf spring 46 from all unnecessary' weight I provide thecoil spring 44 for returning the bell crank lever 45 to normal position.In thisway the trigger 46 is free to swing back into normal position assoon as the disc 24 is swung so as to align the notch 47 .with thetrigger.

It will be observed by viewing Figures 2 and 5 that if hoops ofsubstantially small diameters are employed, the striker lever will movea shorter distance than if hoops of substantially large diameters areemployed. With smaller hoops, the roller 36 tends to move along theouter surface of one of. the hoops. and will not be forced outwardly asfar as it will with larger hoops.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described a supporting frame, a funnel-shapedmember secured to said supporting frame and being spaced therefrom so asto prevent a golf ball from striking the supporting frame, an impactmember, means for movably securing said impact member to said support,said impact member being adapted to be moved by the impact of the golfball, means for returning the member to initial position after it hasbeen struck by the golf ball, means for conveying the golf ball back tothe player, and means associated with said member for preventing therebounding of the golf ball and for delivering the golf ball to saidmeans.

2. In a device of the type described, an indicating device, an impactmember, yielding means for holding said impact member, a movable memberoperatively connected to said impact member and being adapted to bemoved by the impact of a golf ball, and means for retarding the movementof said movable member after said indicating device is moved through apredetermined distance.

3. In a device of the type described, a

supporting frame, a funnel-shaped member passing through and secured tosaid supporting frame, said funnel-shaped member bemg spaced away fromsaid supporting frame so as to prevent agolf ball from striking thesupporting frame, an "impact member, flexible means for movably securingsaid impact member to said support, said impact member being adapted tobe moved by the impact of said-golf ball, spring means for returning themember to initial position after it has beenstruck by the golf ball, ahopper for conveying the golf ball back to the player, and meansassociated with said .member for preventing the rebounding of the golfball and for delivering the golf ball 5. In a golf stroke registeringdevice, a;

frame having an opening therein, a bellows secured to the frame andsurrounding the opening, a back stop at one end of said bellows andadapted to receive the impact of a golf ball on the front face thereof,and means actuated by the movement of said backstop for indicating theforce of impact of the golf ball with said back stop.

6. In a golf stroke registering device, a frame having an openingtherein, a bellows secured to the frame and surrounding the opening, aback stop at one end of said bellows and adapted to receive the impactof a golf ball on the front face thereof, means actuated by the movementof said'back stop for indicating the force of impact of the golf ballwith said back stop, said means including a frame, a lever pivotallymounted on said frame, a wheel rotatably mounted upon said frame, andmeans secured to said back stop for pivoting said lever and rotatingsaid wheel when'said back stop is moved.

7. In a golf stroke registering device, a

frame having an opening therein, a bellows.

secured to the frame and surrounding the openlng, a back stop at one endof said bellows and adapted to receive the impact of a golf ball on thefront face thereof, means actuated by the movement of said back stop forindicating the force of impact of the golf ball with said back stop,said means comprising a semi-circular member carried by said back stop,a frame, a lever pivotally mounted upon said frame and having anoutwardly extending integral projection, a roller rotatably mounted uponsaid projection and disposed in .engagement with said hoop-shapedmember, a wheel rotatably mounted upon said frame, and a striker membersecured to said wheel and disposed in engagement with said lever wherebythe movement of said back stop pivots said lever and rotates saidwheel.

GEORGE IRVING THOMSON.

hoop-shaped

